Handbag



Nov. 23, 1937. A. M. BRESSLER HANDBAG Filed Nov. 4, 1955 3 sheets-sheet 1 Fi 04a INVENTOR ERT M. Engis/.ERM BY/@/LLQUM ATTORNEY Nov. 23, 1937. A. M. BREssLER 2,099,924

HANDBAG Filed Nov. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORN EY Nv. 23, 1937. A. M. BREssLER 2,099,924

HANDBAG Filed Nov. 4, 1955 3 sheets-sheet 5 I, Patented Nov. z3,- 1937 -Vz,o99,924l

UNITED STATESl PATENT oFFlCE ausm y HANDBAG Albert M'. Pradet, New Yl'k, N. 4Y. Application November 4, 1935, Serial No. 48,075

7 Claiml. -(C1. 15H9) The present invention relates to receptacles and, more particularly, to handbags, a prime object oi' the invention being to provide a handbag with a support in foldable relation to the bag frame whereby the handbag may be either carried in the usual way or held by the support in upright position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat: with main and auxiliary frames pivotally connected together and so arranged that the frames may be disposed in folded relation externally of the receptacle in such manner that the bag is not substantially different in appearance from the ordinary handbag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handbag with a support comprising a frame adapted to be disposed in nesting relation with respect to the main frame which carries the receptacle. A

A further object is to provide a handbag with a foldable support and with means for selectively holding the support in folded position or in unfolded position.

A further object is to provide a handbag with a ioldable support and with spring means arranged to releasably hold the bag in closed position or in open position and effective also to hold the support in folded position and unfolded or bag-supporting position, respectively.

A. yet further object is generally to provide a bag of the above described type which is simple in construction and convenient in use and operation.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary `thereto will best be understood from the following description considered with` reference to the accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a handbag embodying the present invention, showing the bag closed and the support in folded position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the bag open and the support in unfolded or bag-supporting position;

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the bag open and the support unfolded;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figl;

Fig, 5 is a side view of a handbag of the present invention, showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the bag shown in Fis. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5;

mFig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a handbag of the present invention, illustrating a further modification, the bag being closed and the supportfolded;

Fig. 10 is an end view of thebag shown. in Fig. 9, the support being unfolded and the bag being open:

Rg, 11 is an end'view of a bag showing another modification of the invention, the bag being open and the support being unfolded;

Fig. 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the connection between the bag frame and the support in the construction shown in Fig. '11, said section being taken on the line IZ--v-IZ of Fig. 13;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line I3-I3 0f Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings in detail and rst to the form oi' the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the handbag comprises a main or bag frame I0, a receptacle or bag I2 made of cloth, leather or any other suitable flexible material, and an auxiliary `iframe or foldable support illv pivotally connected to said main frame and arranged to be disposed selectively either in the folded position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 or in unfolded or bagsupporting position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The main frame I0 comprises two inverted U- shaped members I6 pivotally connected together at their ends by two hinges 20, only one of said hinges being shown, as both hinges and their connection with the ends of the frame members are identical. Said frame members may be made of any suitable material such, for example, as wood or metal, and the bag i2 is attached to their inner marginal edges in any suitable way. As shown, the bag 'I2 may be provided with handles 2i, of flexible material, by which the bag may be carried.

The support i4 comprises two inverted U- shaped members 22 each pivotally connected at its ends to the lower end portions of the main `frame members I8 respectively, by hinges 26 whereby the support i4 may be positioned in folded relation or in unfolded relation with respect to the bag frame l0, as may be desired. Each of said members 22, which may be made of metal, wood, etc., comprises angularly related portions 23 and 24 which deiine a recess 28 which receives the frame members IB in nesting as well as in overlying relation when the support Il is in folded position. A catch is pivotally connected by a rivet 32 to one oi' the support members 22 to releasably hold the support in folded position and also to hold the bag closed. A spacing block or stop 84 is secured to the bag frame members I6 adjacent each hinge 26 below the latter in order to limit the unfolding movement of the support members 22.

A coiled tension spring I6 is secured at its ends to said members 22 at each end of the bag at the outer surfaces of said members when the support is folded. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noticed that said springs are so connected and are so positioned that they are movable with thev support members 22 from a point above the pivotal connections 28 and 26, when the bag is closed and the support is folded, to a point below said pivotal connections, when the support is folded and the bag is open, thereby acting, in the first case, to releasably hold the support in folded position and, in the second case, to releasably hold the members 22 in unfolded or bag supporting position and also to releasably hold the bag open.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the U-shaped main frame members 40 and the U- shaped support members 42 are curved, being preferably substantially semi-circular, in cross section, the uter surfaces of the members 40 being convex and the inner surfaces of the support members being concave whereby said members 40 and 42 are disposed in nesting relation when the support is folded. The inner marginal edge portions 4I of the frame members 40 are preferably flat in order to facilitate attachment of the bag I2a. Likewise the lower end portions 43 of said members 40, adjacent the hinges 4M,

are flat to facilitate attachment of the stop members 46 which may be secured by being welded, soldered or riveted to said fiat portions 43. The hinges 48 by which the support members 42 are pivotally connected to the bag frame members 40 are conveniently formed at the upper ends of said stop members 46. Springs 50 are connected to the support members 42, as in the construction ilrst described and function in the same manner. The interengaging fastener elements $2 connected to the members 42 serve to releasably hold the support in folded position and thereby also hold the bag closed. It will be understood that the support comprising the members 44 may be moved to bag-supporting position in the same manner as the support members 22 in the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 4 and that, in general, the construction, operation and use of the form of the invention here described is substantially the same as said first described construction. v

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 the coiled springs have been eliminated and instead there are utilized plates 60 which, beside servingito retain the main frame members 62 and the support members 64 in folded and unfolded positions, also constitute pivotal connections between said main frame and said supporting members. For this purpose the plates 68 are provided with reflexed portions 66 fixed to the support members 64 adjacent their free ends and are 'pivotally connected to the frame members 62 by pivot pins 68. Said plates are preferably of spring metal and frictionally, although releasably, engage the edge surfaces of the frame inembers 62. 'I'his frictional engagement may be increased by providing the plates with inwardly directed projections l0 on the plate extensions 'l I The lower end portions 63 are reduced, as shown, to permit the support members 64 to pivot about the pins 68 from the folded position shown in Fig.

9 to the unfolded or bag-supporting position shown in Fig. 10. To permit such movement of the members 64, the bag frame members 62 are rst moved to open the bag. It will be understood that in other respects the bag may be constructed and will operate substantially as illustrated in Figs. 1to4orln Flgs.5to 8.

In the construction shown in Figs.` 11 to 13 the bag frame members 8B and the support members 82 are U-shaped and are curved, being in these ,respects substantially the same as the corresponding members 40 and 42 in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the members 80 and 82 being in nested relation when the bag frame 1 is closed and the support is folded, as illustrated and both ends of the supporting members 82 are pivotaliy connected together at each end of the bag by a connection 84, only one of said connections being shown, as both connections are identical in construction. As shown more clearly in Figs. 12 and 13, said connection 84 comprises a pivot pin 86 and two pairs of companion disks, each pair consisting of a disk 8B provided with teeth 89, and a diskv provided with teeth Si normally in engagement with the teeth 89 of the companion disk l88. One bag frame member 8G and the supporting member 82, which is adapted to nest with the latter, are connected respectively to the disks 88 and 9B of a pair, say the left hand pair in Fig. l2, by at portions 94 and Bt integral with saidbag frame member 88 and the supporting member 82, respectively, and secured to the peripheries of said disks 88 and 98, as by rivets or by any other suitable means. Similarly, the other bag frame member 88 and the other supporting member 82 are secured to a pair of disks 88 and 90. The two pairs of disks, each pair constituting a disk S8 and a disk v9i) in toothed engagement with each other as shown, are pivotally mounted on the pin 86 and are normally held in resilient releasable engagement with each other by a coiled spring S3 disposed around the pin 85 ,i

and positioned between a nut 9B, screw-threaded on the end of the pin 855, and the adjacent disk til. Thus, a single pivot is provided at each end of the bag for both the bag frame members and the support frame members, thereby eliminating one of the pivots shown in the above described constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to l0, inclusive. In the'iorm of the invention here shown when the bag is open, the bag frame constituted by the members 80 as well as the support frame constil tuted by the members 82 move together by reason of the toothed engagement of the disks 38 and Sil. However, when the bag is fully open, the support frames 82 can be unfolded from the bag frame members because the spring S8 permits the teeth 89 and 9| to slip by each other thereby permitting relative movement between the companion disks 68 and 98. Said spring 98 however serves to hold the teeth 89 and 9i in engagement to prevent the unintendedcollapse of the support or the folding thereof into nested relation with the bag frame.

'Ihus it is seen that the present constructions handbags and work baskets.

While I have shown and described several embodinients of my invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as here disclosed and further that in each of the embodiments changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made. 'I'herefore, I do not wish to be limited to the present constructions except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A convertible container comprising a main frame including two inverted U-shaped members pivotally connected ktogether at their lower ends, a flexible bag secured to said'members, said bag having an upper portion defined by separable upper edges secured to said frame members, side portions also attached to said members, and a closed-bottom lower portion extending below the pivoted ends of said members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped members pivotally connected to said iirst mentioned frame members above the lower pivotally connected ends of the latter and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto, and in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor.

2. A convertible container comprising a main frame including two inverted U-shaped members pivotally connected together at their lower ends, a flexible bag secured to said members, said bag having an upper portion defined by separable upper edges secured to said frame members, side portions also attached to said members, and a closed-bottom lower portion extending below the pivoted ends of said members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped members pivotally connected to said first mentioned frame members above the lower pivotally connected ends of the latter and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto and, in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, and means for releasably holding said auxiliary frame members selectively in either of said positions.

3; A convertible container comprising a main frame including two U-shaped members pivotally connected together at their ends, a flexible bag secured to said members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped memb'ers pivotally connected to said rst mentioned frame members and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto, and in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, the members of one of said frames having recesses which are substantially coxtensive therewith longitudinally thereof and within which the members of the other frame are at least partly received when the auxiliary-frame members are in said first mentioned position.

4. A convertible container comprising a main frame including two U-shaped members pivotally connected together at their ends, a iiexible bag secured to said members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped members pivot ally connected to said first mentioned frame members and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto and, in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, the members of one of said frames having recesses which are substantially coextensive therewith longitudinally thereof and within which the members of the other frame are at least partly received when the auxiliary frame members are in said first mentioned position, and means for releasably holding said auxiliary frame members selectively in either of said positions.

5. A convertible container comprising a main frame including two U-shaped members pivotally connected together at their ends, a flexible bag secured to said members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped members pivotally connected to said first mentioned frame members and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto, and, in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, the members of one of said frames having recesses which are substantially coextensive therewith longitudinally thereof and within which the members of the other frame are at least partly received When the auxiliary frame members are in said iirst -mentioned position, and spring means for releasably holding said auxiliary frame members selectively in either of said positions.

6. A convertible container comprising a main frame including two U-shaped members pivotally connected together at their ends, a flexible bag secured to saig members, and an auxiliary frame comprising two U-shaped members pivotally connected to said first mentioned frame members and adapted, in one position, to be disposed in substantially overlying relation thereto and, in another position, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, and spring means connected to said auxiliary frame members and movable to one position at one side of the pivotal points of said frame members to releasably hold the auxiliary frame members in said first position and the bag closed and movableto another position at the other side of the pivotal points of said frame members to releasably hold the auxiliary frame members in second position and the bag open.

7. A convertible container comprising a main frame, a flexible bag carried thereby, and an auxiliary frame comprising a plurality of members pivotally connected to said main frame and adapted, in one position, to be disposed substantially in overlying relation to said main frame and, in another p osition, to be disposed at least partly below said main frame to constitute a support therefor, and spring means connected to said auxiliary frame members and movable to one position at one side of the pivotal points of said framel members to releasably hold the auxiliary frame members in said first position and the bag closed and movable to another position at the other side of the pivotal points of said frame members to releasably hold the auxiliary frame members in said second position and the bag open. f

ALBERT M. BRESSLER. 

